Airway, Respiration & Ventilation Flashcards
The backward, upward, and rightward pressure used during intubation to improve the laryngoscopic view of the glottis opening and vocal cords; also called external laryngeal manipulation
BURP maneuver
What is status asthmaticus?
Status asthmaticus is a severe, prolonged asthmatic attack that cannot be stopped with conventional treatment.
ECS p.940
A continuous low pitched sound which indicates the presence of mucus or fluid in the larger lower airways
Rhonchi
How does APHONIA differ from DYSPHONIA?
Aphonia = inability to speak
Dysphonia = difficulty speaking
ECS p.802
Agonal gasps are
Slow, shallow, irregular, or occasional gasping breaths; results from cerebral anoxia.
**MAY BE SEEN WHEN THE HEART HAS STOPPED BUT THE BRAIN CONTINUES TO SEND SIGNALS TO THE MUSCLES OF RESPIRATIONS** ECS p.785
What medication would you resolve wheezing in asthmatics?
ADULTS:
- Albuterol (@ 2.5mg) & Atrovent (@ 0.5mg) nebulized in SVN
- Epinephrine [consider for more severe respiratory distress] (@ 0.3mg of 1:1,000 IM)
- Solu-Medrol (@ 2mg/kg slow IV push)
- need to bronchodilate due to constriction form bronchospasm
- need to reduce bronchial edema
ECS p.941
Disadvantages of supraglottic airway
- not a definitive airway
- does not provide protection against aspiration (in fact, with an LMA, it increases risk of aspiration as stomach contents would most be directed into trachea)
- during prolonged ventilation, some wire may be insufflated into stomach because seal made at airway isn’t airtight
ECS p.870
An approximation of the extent of bronchoconstriction; used to determine whether therapy (such as with inhaled bronchodilators) is effective
Peak expiratory flow
Signs of respiratory distress/inadequate ventilation
- shallow breathing/abdominal breathing - irregular rhythm & rate - ALOC - adventitious (abnormal) breath sounds - diaphoretic/cold/cyanotic - accessory muscle recruitment/retractions - nasal flaring/pursed lips - preferential positioning (sniffing, tripod) - asymmetric/paradoxical chest wall movement - staccato speech patterns ECS p.783-784
Nasogastric (NG) tube contraindication:
- patients with severe facial injuries (particularly mid face fractures)
- skull fractures
[Although rare, the NG tube may be inserted inadvertently through the fracture and into the cranial vault]
ECS p.821
Hyperventilation can lead to
Respiratory alkalosis ECS p.782
The muscles not normally used during normal breathing, which include the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck and the chest and abdominal muscles
Accessory muscles
How do you measure an OPA?
Measure the distance from the corner of the patient’s mouth to the earlobe or the angle of the jaw.
ECS p.800
Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respiration with intermittent periods of apnea; resulting from increased intracranial pressure.
Biot (ataxic) respirations
When is nasal intubation contraindicated?
Nasotracheal intubation is CONTRAINDICATED in apneic patients (in respiratory or cardiac arrest), who should receive orotracheal intubation. It is also contraindicated in patients with head trauma, possible mid face fractures or an anatomical abnormality (deviated septum, nasal polyps frequent cocaine use).
ECS p.847
Advantages of a supraglottic airway?
- provides better ventilation than a bag-mask device and adjunct airway
- does not require continual maintenance of a mask seal
- easier insertion/placement (then intubation)
- significantly less risk for trauma to soft-tissue, vocal cords, tracheal wall and teeth (then intubation)
ECS p.869
Hypoxia is
A condition ion which the tissues and cells do not receive enough oxygen. ECS p.778
What will be a remarkable symptom that differs pneumonia from COPD?
A fever would accompany pneumonia as pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections or infections with other microorganisms.
ECS p.
What does PATENT airway refer to?
An open (& clear) airway.
ECS P.776
What adventitious lung sound produces a continuous coarse, low-pitched sound?
A) rhonchi
B) wheezing
C) stridor
D) crackles/rales
A) Rhonchi Rhonchi indicates mucus or fluid in the upper, larger lower airways. Common in patients with pulmonary edema and/or bronchitis. ECS p.787
What is lung compliance?
It is the ability to the alveoli to expand when air is drawn into the lungs during negative pressure ventilation or pushed into the lungs during positive pressure ventilation.
ECS p.804
What structures are part of the UPPER AIRWAY?
All structures that are above the glottis opening (glottis):
- nose
- mouth
- tongue
- jaw
- oral cavity
- pharynx (nasopharynx/oropharynx/laryngopharynx)
- larynx
ECS p.356/776
What structures are part of the LOWER AIRWAY?
All structures that extend from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane:
- larynx (epiglottis, thyroid cartilage, glottic opening, vocal cords, cricoid cartilage)
- trachea
- bronchial tree
- lungs
- alveoli
ECS p.360/776
A 48 YOM extricated from a wrecked car; he is unconscious and has an injury to the back of his head Which is preferred?
N- Nasotracheal intubation T- Endotracheal intubation C- Cricothyrotomy
N- Nasotracheal int.





